The Influence of Different Potassium and Sodium Ion Concentrations on the Rate of Abiogenic Peptide Synthesis

The physicochemical conditions of the aqueous environment at the dawn of biological evolution were of key importance for abiogenic peptide synthesis. Recently, we have shown theoretical and experimental evidence for the unique role of potassium ions in the exponential acceleration of undirected peptide synthesis from L-glutamic acid. These data have confirmed our previous hypothesis that the first protocell emerged in a potassium rather than sodium-rich aqueous solution (seawater). The present work provides experimental data for an interpretation of concentration dependence and of optimal effective concentration of potassium and sodium ions in L-glutamic acid peptide formation.